The Holiday Season Transforms Into a Living Hell for Those with Misophonia.
One young woman anticipates spending time with her relatives this Christmas, but admits a primary method she'll manage to get through it is by wearing her hearing protection - notably for the main festive feast.
For the 23-year-old, the holidays can be a especially challenging season as the noises of people eating, drinking noisily and sniffling trigger extremely uncomfortable.
"I experience this feeling of instant dread, my whole body will just tighten and it seems as if I'm in peril, and I need to somehow control these triggers."
Lottie has lived with sound sensitivity since she was 16 and for her that renders the holiday period "deeply taxing".
Misophonia is a reduced tolerance to specific noises, especially noises coming from those around you.
It's surprisingly common amongst adults. A study reported nearly 20% people suffer from it.
Typically it's sounds associated with mouth, throat or facial movements that cause distress, including examples such as chewing, breathing, and repetitive finger tapping.
Triggering Stress
The sufferer notes: "There are so many assorted problematic noises at Christmas and that can be stressful and make you fear it.
"My relatives are aware, but I'm very mindful that I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable. It's like a internal conflict of sacrificing my own sanity to make sure others enjoy themselves."
So it's clear why the traditionally happy time of the year can quickly turn into a living nightmare for those with the condition.
Triggers that may seem harmless, like someone sipping a beverage, opening presents, or tucking into a Christmas dinner can cause a visceral feeling that can even cause them avoiding social settings altogether.
The student, a 21-year-old student, who has struggled with misophonia for over a decade, says currently her plan is to put her earphones in to cope. Usually, she would frequently go in a separate space to escape distressing triggers.
She says her condition is worse around people she's most familiar with, so the holidays is always "hard".
"There is pressure to spend time with loved ones, and I desire to, but it's physically and mentally challenging.
"The sensation is this sudden rage washes over me, which can feel awkward, or I'll feel anxious and begin to weep and then fight-or-flight will take over.
"It may seem as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
A Few Techniques to Manage
If you suffer then there are various strategies you can attempt to manage the situation, as suggested by specialists.
- Imagine an Alternative: Mental imagery is key. Try to associate the specific noise bothering you with a neutral concept. As an illustration, try to picture someone's slurping is just a waterfall. This technique is to retrain your mind that the sound triggering you is neutral.
- Try a Competition: Have a bit of fun and turn the annoying sound into a game with the culprit. For example, if someone is crunching loudly have a go at copying the noise. Through participation, instead of feeling like the sound is being imposed on you, you become an active participant. And the game aspect should help distract your brain and make you somewhat less sensitive.
- Create a Scenario: Another technique is to try to create a little story about why the person making the noise is having to make that sound. Imagine if someone was making a nasal sound, it could be that they're not feeling well or could be emotional. The idea is altering the perception of the sound. Although the noise stays the same, your interpretation of it shifts from being aggravating, to feeling a slightly more compassionate about it.
